Communion Across Time, Space & Genres

A non-religious definition of communion from Webster's Dictionary: the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level

[4 books on a tabletop, from left to right: communion: The Female Search for Love, Archangel's Eternity, The Started Ex, The Last Lady B]

communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks

non-fiction memoir(ish)

William Morrow, 2002

This third book in the bell hooks Love Trilogy zooms in on the impacts of patriarchy and narrow gendered expectations on individuals, then zooms out to examine the radial effects on romantic relationships, families, friendships, academic and career pursuits, and how it all infiltrates society.

from the preface:

The women in our culture who have the most to teach everyone about the nature of love are the generations of females who learned through feminist struggle and feminist-based therapy that self-love was the key to finding and knowing love.

from chapter 9:

And it is easy to see how such girlhood power, were it widespread, could easily undermine the conventional sexist social order.

As with the first two books, the intimate writing style invites readers to examine themselves - with compassion - and the layers of their identities and experiences with deep observational specificity because we're all worth the effort of discovery and meaningful connection.

Archangel's Eternity (Guild Hunters #18) by Nalini Singh

supernatural romance

Berkley, May 2026

A satisfying conclusion to a beloved series with its signature combination of emotional intimacy within narrative spectacle

The Started Ex by Mia Sosa

contemporary romance

G.P. Putnam's Sons, March 2026

How to Lose a Guy in Ten Dates collides with Punk'd in this unlikely love story about fear and vulnerability when people get honest with themselves about who and what they want and need in their lives.

The Last Lady B (Accidental Brides #3) by Eloisa James

historical romance

Gallery Books, May 2026

This satirical mashup of "My Last Duchess" mixed with Jayne Eyre and Rebecca offers intrigue and humor along with spicy exchanges and relevant social commentary.

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day

Happy surviving to thriving!

Comments

Legacies of Octavia Butler & June BAC Issues

It's so exciting to read about a trailblazer who was ethical, thoughtful, generous, and funny in addition to being diligent and multifaceted. [Positive Obsession atop a bookstack of 7 books - The Last Lady B spine showing, then 6 books showing page edges; Communion propped to the left of the bookstack] Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris non-fiction biography Amistad, 2025 Opening with a quote from Parable of the Sower, this biographer uses every word in the O.E.B. chronology, author's note, introduction, six chapters, epilogue, and acknowledgements to engage readers in an intimate personal study of this extraordinary, talented, driven woman who was vulnerable and complicated in her brilliant humanity. The author's access to the O.E.B. archives adds layers of emotional depth that enrich the context of the details of the author's personal life and creative and professional development. from the Author's Note:...

When What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funny

Need to laugh out loud? To feel inspired? To feel seen? To feel encouraged to pursue your heart's most ambitious desires despite overwhelming odds against succeeding? Read Zarna Garg's memoir, which offers an intimate, compelling coming of age, immigrant's journey, family saga, and keen observations about humans and life as experienced by a hilarious, intrepid individual. [front cover of "Zarna Garg, This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir" showing the Statue of Liberty holding the author in her arms with the New York City skyline in the lower half of the background] This American Woman: A One-In-A-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg non-fiction memoir Ballantine Books, April 2025 Universal themes of family love and family conflict, support and abandonment, grieving as a years' long process with lulls, parenting and being parented (or not), finding your people in friendship, romance, community presented and dissected with the author's sharp wit ...

New Arrivals Giving BRBF Vibes + BAC Issues

Even as my friends and I enjoyed a fantastic community event yesterday in and around the Bowie Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, there was envy in my heart for all of the attendees and participants at the Black Romance Book Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. Reports of issues of crowding just made me happy for the event organizers' success while they posted apologies and corrective strategies for crowd control during the last day. In the meantime, the new arrivals shelves at the closest library in the neighboring county offered a variety of books by BRBF authors. "Where the Melanated Are Celebrated" indeed. [9 books, from left to right: Positive Obsession, Communion, Big Girl Blitz (atop a bookstack), The Started Ex, Fire Sword & Sea, Leave Your Mess at Home, Archangel's Eternity, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, First Sign of Danger] Currently reading Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Mo...

Search This Blog